Macros and add-ins do not run when security is set to High in PowerPoint and Word

Article ID: 285514 - View products that this article applies to.
This article was previously published under Q285514
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SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Office PowerPoint, you may see either of the following symptoms:
  • When you open the Macro dialog box, the Run button is unavailable. It appears dimmed.

  • When you run a slide show and then click a graphic linked to a macro, the macro does not run.
In Microsoft Office Word, when you attempt to run a macro, you receive the following (or a similar) error message
Microsoft Visual Basic
The macros in this project are disabled. Please refer to the online help or documentation of the host application to determine how to enable macros.
Then, the macro does not run.

In Word or in PowerPoint, add-in menus or toolbars are not visible or they do not function if you attempt to use the menu items or command buttons.
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CAUSE

By default, Office sets macro security to High. This setting prevents Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) sub procedures and add-ins that have not been digitally signed from running.
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WORKAROUND

To work around this issue, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Add Digital Signatures to Your Macros

If you add digital signatures to your macros, the macros can be run with high security. Obtain a digital signature, and then add the digital signature to the macro. To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Open the file that contains the macro project that you want to sign.
  2. Press ALT+F11 to start Visual Basic Editor.
  3. In the Project Explorer, select the project that you want to sign.
  4. On the Tools menu, click Digital Signature.
  5. Click Choose, select the certificate, and then click OK twice.
For more information about obtaining and using digital signatures, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
217221
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/217221/ )
Using SelfCert to create a digital certificate for VBA projects
206637
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/206637/ )
Overview of digital certificates

Method 2: Obtain an Add-in with a Digital Signature

Contact your add-in vendor to see if a signed version of the add-in is available. For more information about hardware and software vendor contact information, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/vendors
(http://support.microsoft.com/gp/vendors)

Method 3: Trust Installed Add-ins

To set all add-ins as trusted programs that can run, follow these steps:

For PowerPoint 2010 and for Word 2010

  1. Click the File tab, click Options.
  2. Click Trust Center, click Trust Center Settings , and then click Trusted Locations.
  3. Add the trusted locations that you want, and then click OK two times.
 

For PowerPoint 2007 and for Word 2007

  1. Click the Microsoft Office Button, and then click one of the following:
    • Word Options
    • PowerPoint Options
  2. Click Trust Center, click Trust Center Settings, and then click Trusted Locations.
  3. Add the trusted locations that you want, and then click OK two times.

For PowerPoint 2003 and for Word 2003

  1. Start PowerPoint 2003, or Word 2003.
  2. On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Security.
  3. On the Trusted Publishers tab, click to select the Trust all installed add-ins and templates check box, and then click OK.

For PowerPoint 2002 and for Word 2002

  1. Start PowerPoint 2002 or Word 2002.
  2. On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Security.
  3. On the Trusted Sources tab, click to select the Trust all installed add-ins and templates check box, and then click OK.

Method 4: Change the level of macro virus protection

To change the security level of macro virus protection, follow these steps:

For PowerPoint 2010 and for Word 2010

  1. Click the Microsoft Office Button, and then click Word Options or PowerPoint Options.
  2. Click Trust Center, click Trust Center Settings, and then click Macro Settings.
  3. In the Macro Settings section, select the security level that you want to use, and then click OK two times.

For PowerPoint 2007 and for Word 2007

  1. Click the Microsoft Office Button, and then click one of the following:
    • Word Options
    • PowerPoint Options
  2. Click Trust Center, click Trust Center Settings, and then click Macro Settings.
  3. In the Marco Settings section, select the security level that you want to use, and then click OK two times.

For PowerPoint 2002, Word 2002, PowerPoint 2003, or Word 2003

  1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
  2. Click the Security tab.
  3. Under Macro Security, click Macro Security.
  4. Click the Security Level tab, and then select the security level that you want to use.
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Properties

Article ID: 285514 - Last Review: September 12, 2011 - Revision: 8.0
APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2007
  • Microsoft Office Word 2007
  • Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003
  • Microsoft PowerPoint 2002 Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Word 2002
Keywords: 
kbsecurity kbaddin kbmacro kbprb KB285514
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